Wire reel



y 1954 L. w. WASSON 3,134,556

WIRE REEL Filed Aug. 15, 1962 Fig.1

INVENTOR L AWRENCE W. WA SSON United States Patent 3,134,556 WIRE REEL Lawrence W. Wasson, 587 Hope St., Stamford, Conn. Filed Aug. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 217,108 13 Claims. (Cl. 24296) This invention relates to a wire dispensing reel and more particularly relates to the type of wire dispensing device utilized by workmen in dispensing tie wire used in fastening steel reinforcing rod.

In the normal practice of constructing concrete buildings and other structures with steel reinforcing rod, workmen employ tying wire to secure the rods in position. To enable workmen to have a handy supply of Wire readily available in a form that can be used in making quick and effective ties of the various and numerous rods, a portable dispensing device is used. In the past several types of dispensers have been developed and offered for use as wire dispensers for reinforcing rod tying. In all of these, however, some aspect of their construction or manner of functioning has limited widespread satisfactory commercial use. Typical of the devices that have been developed for this purpose are those disclosed in US. 2,683,000 and US. 2,982,491.

In modifications of commercially available tie wire dispensers it is normally necessary to completely disassemble the dispenser to insert or load the dispenser with the coil of tie wire. In one form of dispenser presently available, it is necessary to remove the face of the dispenser reel by unbolting a lock nut on the shaft supporting the reel. Quite often a workman when removing this nut on the job site will accidentally drop the nut thus making it impossible to reassemble the dispenser without a lengthy search for the nut or taking the time to secure another locking nut. The disadvantage of such a device when workmen are many stories from the ground is quite obvious. In other types of available devices construction is such that during wire withdrawal the wire often binds and locks against the casing thus preventing the speedy withdrawal of the desired length of wire.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved tie wire dispensing device.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a tie wire dispensing device of improved construction that avoids the dismantling or disassembling at the job site to reload with tie wire coils.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wire dispensing device which can readily be used by either right or left handed persons in a manner that avoids binding and locking of the wire reel during wire withdrawal.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a light weight, portable wire dispensing device of improved design that overcomes the mechanical deficiencies of conventional tie wire dispensing reels.

The present invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing and the specification which follows:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical cross section incorporating a partial conceptional View of the wire dispensing device partially opened to receive a tie wire coil.

FIGURE 2 is a rear view of the dispensing device.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a partial cross sectional view of an alternate embodiment showing the shaft and hub as an integral member.

In the drawing, numeral 8 generally designates the cylindrical shaped tie wire dispensing device of the present invention. Dispenser 8 comprises two cup-like shells identified as 10 and 12. Shells 10 and 12 are substanice tially identical in shape and configuration as is shown and are constructed of plastic, steel, aluminum, alloys or other light weight material to reduce the weight of the dispenser. Quite obviously, shells 10 and 12 must be constructed of material of suflicient strength to withstand the rigorous use to which the device is subjected.

As described hereafter, reference will be made to the components of a single shell for convenience it being understood that the shells and components are substantially identical as suggested. Shell 10 includes a vertical rear wall generally circular in shape identified at 14. Rear wall 14 has integral therewith a continuous side wall 15 which is provided at one portion thereof with the hinge element 11 preferably fashioned or constructed as an integral part thereof. The hinge 11 alternately can be fastened to side wall 15 as a separate element by riveting, welding or by other means as desired. Hinge pin 11a is provided to complete the hinge holding shells 10 and 12 in opposed relationship.

It will be noted that the hinge between shells 10 and 12 permits their opening and closing in a clam-like manner. A locking means such as a snap lock, locking pin, snap bolt or other convenient means is provided at 13 to lock the opposing shells in closed position after a tie wire coil has been inserted therein as is more completely described hereafter. Locking means 13 can be fixed to the shells by means of rivets, bolts, welding or other fastening means such as is shown in 13a. It is, of course, understood that one shell Will have the appropriate mating lock means to complement the lock portion of the opposite shell. The rear wall 14 of each shell has centrally located therein an indented cup-like portion 16 which terminates in an integral inner vertical wall 19. Cup-like cylindrical indentation 16 is preferably an integral part of the rear wall 14 and can be fashioned therein when the rear Wall is cast or formed. A shaft 17 is centrally located in the indented cup-like portion 16 of each shell. Shaft 17 is horizontally positioned in cup 16 and extends through the inner vertical wall 19 of the cup 16. Shaft 17 includes a hub receiving surface 17a the function of which is more completely described hereafter. Shaft 17 is maintained in position by a nut 18 or other suitable locking means. For convenience and to avoid an obstruction on the face of the respective shells, the cylindrical indentation 16 is constructed deep enough to permit the rear wall surface to be flush when the locking nut is placed on shaft 17. As indicated, support surface 17a receives hub 22 and assists in the rotation of hub 22 and circular plate 20 on shaft 17. In an alternate embodiment, FIG- URE 4, shaft 17 can be made an integral part of hub 22 and plate 21. In this construction, shaft 17' would be positioned in cup 16 in a manner that would permit the shaft and plate to rotate on the shoulder created by the hole in vertical wall 19. If desired, in this embodiment, suitable bearing means could be provided to assist the rotation of hub 22 and plate 21 within the dispenser.

Mounted on shaft 17 is a circular plate 20 which is substantially indentical in structure to an opposing cir cular plate 21 carried on the shaft of the opposing shell. Plates 20 and 21 are circular and of a diameter less than the diameter of the shell thus permitting the same to fit within the respective shells. Each plate includes a centrally located hub as shown at 22 on plate 20. Hub 22 is mounted on shaft 17 and extends inwardly to the center of the dispensing device. Hub 20 terminates at its inner end in a plurality of teeth 23. Teeth 23 are designed to mesh with similar and opposing teeth on the hub of the circular plate positioned on the shaft of the opposing shell. If desired other interlocking means can be used to maintain the plates in locked relationship when the opposite shells are moved to a closed position. As will be apparent, the meshing or locking of teeth 23 of opposite hubs results in the formation of a reel which will support the tie wire coil placed thereon. The positioning of a wire coil such as that identified at 35 in FIGURE 1 is more completely described hereafter.

It will be noted that hub 22 includes a reinforcing rib or beaded elevated portion 22a which serves to strengthen the hub and plate 20. Reinforcing 22a provides a con venient shoulder on which to seat the tie wire coil 35 when the dispenser is loaded for use. To permit withdrawal of wire from the dispenser, a wire withdrawal opening 25 is provided. Preferably more than one withdrawal wire opening is provided such as is shown in FIGURE 2 where withdrawal openings are positioned on opposite sides of the cylindrical casing. Withdrawal opening 25 is created by cutting away a portion of the side wall of each shell or by fashioning the side wall with an opening in it. Quite obviously it is necessary to provide an opening of the same size and shape and in the same position in the side wall of the opposing shell. When the dispenser is constructed of plastic material, it is desirable to reinforce opening 25 with a reinforcing edge 26. Reinforcing edge 26 is designed to be fitted to the outside surface of the circular wall around the edge of the withdrawal opening and is fastened thereon as shown on 27. If desired reinforcing edge 26 may be inlaid around the edge of the wire withdrawal opening. When the dispensing device shells are constructed of steel, alumium, or other suitable alloys, it is preferred that a reinforcing edge such as shown on 26 also be used. This reinforcing is desirable since continuous wire withdrawal on the edge of the wall at opening 25 results in a wearing and cutting away of the edge of the side wall. This undesirable result is overcome by using the reinforcing edge 26. Since the wire reel can rotate in either direction, reinforcing is preferred around the edges of all withdrawal openings.

To permit the dispensing device to be supported by the belt of a workingman, a pair of vertical belt engaging loops 30 are provided on the rear wall of one of the shells. Belt engaging loops 30 are spaced apart horizontally, preferably above or on a line with the horizontal center of the casing. Belt loops 30 are spaced apart from each other on opposite sides of the vertical center of the casing, a suflicient distance to minimize the tendency of the device to swing, twist or move when wire is pulled through the dispensing opening 25. Loops 30 may be constructed integrally in the construction of the shell section 12 as shown in FIGURE 1 or may be welded or permanently afiixed to the rear wall 14 by bolts, welding or other suitable means.

As will be readily apparent and has been previously described, the dispenser of the present invention is constructed to open in a clam-like manner which is more clearly shown in FIGURE 1. Unlocking the lock at 13 permits the opposing shells to be opened thus allowing a coil of wire to be positioned on hub 22. As shown in FIGURE 1, coil will nest on the hub 22 resting on the beaded edge 22a. The latter edge or raised surface is not essential to the construction of the dispenser but permits the coil or wire to be more readily removed if desired.

=It will be noted in FIGURE 1 that a locking shoulder 11b is shown in association with hinge 11. Shoulder 11b limits the extent to which the shell opposite the belt hanging shell can be opened. As will be obvious it is not essential that the construction of the hinge 11 include shoulder 11b. The absence of the shoulder 1117 will permit the shell opposite the belt supported shell to move to a position 180 from the closed position and in effect lie flat against the workman. This construction is preferable if the dispensing device is fashioned of light-weight plastic since it will avoid the possibility of the hinge being broken by excessive pressure being placed on the shoulder 11b by the workman.

Being hinged at 11 permits the opening and closing of the shells as desired without the necessity of unbolting or otherwise dismantling the dispensing device or removing a portion of the reel as is required by conventional de-' vices. The advantage of the dispenser of the present invention and the simplicity by which the tie wire coil may be introduced into the same is readily apparent. As is obvious, after the wire coil has been placed on the hub of one shell the shells are moved to a closed position adjacent to and abutting each other at the edge of the re spective side walls and locked in the opposed position by the locking device 13. Wire may then be withdrawn from either side of the dispenser through the appropriate openings in a manner such as is suggested in FIGURES 2 and 3 wherein the wire is identified as 36.

While the present invention has been described with respect to the embodiment shown, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific construction shown nor the manner of assembling the same but rather the invention is to be limited by the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A cylindrically shaped tie wire dispensing device comprising two opposed cup-like shells hinged to open and close in a clam-like manner, each of said shells comprising a rear wall and a side wall integral therewith, said rear wall of each shell having a centrally located indented cup-like portion terminating in an inner Wall, a shaft fixed to and projecting inwardly through said inner wall, a circular plate mounted to rotate on said shaft and means connected with said plate to maintain said plate in fixed relationship with the plate of the opposing shell when said shells are in closed relationship.

2. A cylindrically shaped tie wire dispensing device comprising two opposed cup-like shells hinged to open and close in a clam-like manner, each of said shells being generally circular and comprising a rear wall and a side wall integral therewith, said rear wall of each shell having a centrally located indented cup-like portion terminating in an inner wall, a shaft fixed to and projecting inwardly through said inner wall, a circular plate mounted to rotate on said shaft and means connected with said plate to maintain said plate in fixed relationship with the plate of the opposing shell when said shells are in closed relationship.

3. A cylindrically shaped tie Wire dispensing device comprising two opposed cup-like shells hinged to open and close in a clam-like manner, each of said shells being generally circular and comprising a rear wall and a side wall integral therewith, the rear wall of each shell having a centrally located indented cup-like portion terminating in an inner vertical wall, a shaft mounted through the inner vertical wall projecting inwardly to the approximate center of the dispensing device, a circular plate mounted to rotate on said shaft, means connected with said plate to maintain said plate in fixed relationship with the plate mounted on the shaft of the opposing shell when said shells are locked in closed relationship.

4. A cylindrically shaped tie wire dispensing device comprising two opposed cup-like shells hinged to open and close in a clam-like manner, each of said shells being generally circular in shape and comprising a vertical wall and a continuous side wall prependicular to the rear wall and integral therewith, said side wall of each shell having at least one wire withdrawal opening, said rear wall of each shell having a centrally located indented cup-like portion terminating in an inner wall, a shaft fixed to and projecting inwardly through said inner wall, a circular plate mounted to rotate on said shaft and means connected with said plate to maintain said plate in fixed relationship with the plate of the opposing shell when said shells are in closed relationship.

5. A cylindrically shaped tie Wire dispensing device comprising two opposed cup-like shells hinged to open and close in a clam-like manner, each of said shells being generally circular and comprising a rear wall and a con tinuous side wall perpendicular to the rear Wall and integral therewith, said side wall having at least one wire withdrawal opening, said wire withdrawal opening being in the same relative position as the wire withdrawal opening in the side wall of the opposing shell, said rear wall of each shell having a centrally located indented cup terminating in an inner vertical wall, a supporting shaft centrally fixed to the inner vertical wall projecting therethrough, a circular plate mounted on said shaft having hub means connected therewith to maintain said plate in fixed relationship with the plate mounted on the shaft of the opposing shell when said shells are maintained in closed relationship.

6. A cylindrically shaped tie wire dispensing device comprising two opposed cup-like shells hinged to open and close in a clam-like manner, each of said shells being generally circular and comprising a rear wall and a continuous side wall perpendicular to the rear wall and integral therewith, said side wall having at least one wire withdrawal opening, said wire withdrawal opening being in the same relative position as the wire withdrawal opening in the side wall of the opposing shell, said rear wall of each shell having a centrally located indented cup terminating in an inner vertical wall, a horizontal supporting shaft centrally positioned in the inner vertical wall and projecting therethrough, a circular plate mounted on said shaft by means of a hub connected therewith, said hub terminating in means to engage the hub of the plate mounted on the support shaft of the opposing shell, to maintain the plates in fixed relationship when the shells are locked in closed position.

7. A cylindrically shaped tie wire dispensing device comprising two opposed cup-like shells hinged to open and close in a clam-like manner, each of said shells being generally circular and comprising a rear wall and a continuous side wall perpendicular to the rear wall and integral therewith, said side wall having at least one wire withdrawal opening, said wire withdrawal opening being in the same relative position as the wire withdrawal opening in the side wall of the opposing shell, said rear wall of each shell having a centrally located indented cup terminating in an inner vertical wall, a horizontal shaft projecting through the inner vertical wall and supported therein by means to lock said shaft in position, a circular plate mounted on said shaft by meansof a hub integral with the plate, said hub terminating in a plurality of teeth adapted to mesh in fixed relationship with the teeth on the hub of the plate mounted on the supporting shell and means to lock the shells in fixed relationship.

8. A cylindrically shaped tie wire dispensing device comprising two opposed cup-like shells hinged to open and close in a clam-like manner, each of said shells being generally circular and comprising a rear wall and a continuous side wall perpendicular to the rear wall and integral therewith, said side wall having at least one wire withdrawal opening, said wire withdrawal opening being in the same relative position as the wire withdrawal opening in the side wall of the opposing shell, said rear wall of each shell having a centrally located indented cup terminating in an inner vertical wall, a supporting shaft fixed to the inner vertical wall in the center thereof terminating at the approximate center of the dispensing device when the shells are locked in closed relationship, said shaft having mounted thereon a circular plate having a hub which terminates in means to lock with the hub of the plate mounted on the shaft of the opposing shell, said plates forming a reel when the hubs are interlocked when the shells are maintained in closed relationship.

9. A tie wire dispensing device cylindrically shaped and comprising two cup-like shells hinged in opposed position adapted to open and close in a clam-like manner, each of said shells being substantially identical in construction and of generally circular configuration comprising a rear wall and a continuous side wall perpendicular to the rear wall and integral with said rear wall, said side wall having at least one wire withdrawal opening, a reinforcing edge around the face of said opening, said wire Withdrawal opening being in the same relative position as the wire withdrawal opening in the side wall of the opposing shell, said rear wall of each shell having a centrally located cylindrically shaped indentation terminating in an inner vertical wall, a circular plate having a shaft integral therewith centrally located therein adapted to be positioned in the center of the inner vertical wall, said plate having a hub means integral therewith and terminating in locking means to lock with the hub of the opposing plate mounted on the opposing shell.

10. A tie wire dispensing device cylindrically shaped and comprising two cup-like shells hinged in opposed position adapted to open and close in a clam-like manner, each of said shells being substantially identical in construction and of generally circular configuration comprising a rear wall and a continuous side wall perpendicular to the rear wall and integral with said rear wall, said side wall having at least one wire withdrawal opening, a reinforcing edge around the face of said opening, said wire withdrawal opening being in the same relative position as the wire withdrawal opening in the side wall of the opposing shell, said rear wall of each shell having a centrally located cylindrically shaped indentation terminating in an inner vertical wall, a circular plate having a shaft centrally located therein perpendicular to said plate, said shaft being positioned in the center of the inner vertical wall to thereby support said plate on said wall means to lock said shaft in position, a hub centrally located on the circular plate on the opposite side of said shaft, said hub terminating in a plurality of teeth adapted to mesh with the teeth on the hub of the opposing plate of the opposing shell when the shells are locked in closed relationship.

11. A tie wire dispensing device cylindrically shaped and compr sing two cup-like shells hinged in opposed position adapted to open and close in a clam-like manner, each of said shells being substantially identical in construction and of generally circular configuration comprising a rear wall and a continuous side wall perpendicular to the rear wall and integral with said rear wall, said side wall having at least one wire withdrawal opening, a reinforcing edge around the face of said opening, said wire withdrawal opening being in the same relative position as the wire withdrawal opening in the side Wall of the opposing shell, said rear wall of each shell havig a centrally located cylindrically shaped indentation terminating in an inner vertical wall, a shaft fitted through the inner vertical wall and projecting into the center of the device, a circular plate having a central hub mounted on said shaft, said hub having means associated therewith to interlock with the hub of a circular plate mounted on the shaft of the opposing shell when the shells are moved into closed relationship, and means on the outer side of one of the; shell rear walls to support the dispensing device on a 12. A cylindrically shaped, tie wire dispensing device comprising two opposing cup-like shells hinged to open and close in a clam-like manner, each of said shells comprising a rear wall and a side wall integral therewith, said rear wall of each shell having a centrally located indented cup-like portion terminating in an inner wall, a shaft positioned in said inner wall terminating at its inner end in a circular plate and means connected with said plate to maintain said plate in fixed relationship with the plate of the opposing shell when said shells are in closed relationship.

13. A cylindrically shaped tie wire dispensing device comprising two opposing cup-like shells hinged to open and close in a clam-like manner, each of said shells comprising a rear wall and a side wall integral therewith, said rear wall of each shell having a centrally located indented cup-like portion terminating in an inner wall, a shaft positioned in and projecting through said inner wall having 8 means on the outer end thereof to maintain said shaft in References Cited in the file of this patent position, said shaft being integral with a circular plate at UNITED STATES PATENTS 1ts inner end, said plate having means integral therewith to maintain said plate in fixed relationship with the plate 1,005,155 Chaunon 1911 and the opposing shell when said shells are in closed 5 2525992 Y 1950 2,982,491 Beiderwell May 2, 1961 relationship. 

1. A CYLINDRICALLY SHAPED TIE WIRE DISPENSING DEVICE COMPRISING TWO OPPOSED CUP-LIKE SHELLS HINGED TO OPEN AND CLOSE IN A CLAM-LIKE MANNER, EACH OF SAID SHELLS COMPRISING A REAR WALL AND A SIDE WALL INTEGRAL THEREWITH, SAID REAR WALL OF EACH SHELL HAVING A CENTRALLY LOCATED INDENTED CUP-LIKE PORTION TERMINATING IN AN INNER WALL, A SHAFT FIXED TO AND PROJECTING INWARDLY THROUGH SAID INNER WALL, A CIRCULAR PLATE MOUNTED TO ROTATE ON SAID SHAFT AND MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID PLATE TO MAINTAIN SAID PLATE IN FIXED RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PLATE OF THE OPPOSING SHELL WHEN SAID SHELL ARE IN CLOSED RELATIONSHIP. 